“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

Matthew 5:13,14 tell us that we are to be salt and light in this world. And we are to let our light shine before mankind that they may see God and glorify Him in heaven. 

But where is this salt and light supposed to function? Where the unbelievers are, in the marketplaces of the world! 

Therefore your work is a platform for you to function as salt and light in this world. It takes you to places where you cannot otherwise go. 

Many believers have the misconception that God is only pleased when we quit our jobs and go into the “full-time” Christian ministry. 

The truth is: God is only pleased when we are doing what He wants us to do, be it repairing shoes or preaching to thousands! 

So if God has called you to be a vocational Christian worker, please do not be a doctor. But if God did not call you to vocational Christian ministry, then please do not sign up! 

The movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner from Scotland in the 1930s. Liddell was about to answer his call to be a missionary to China but before that he wanted to run in the Olympics. 

In one dramatic scene, his sister was questioning why he wanted to run in the Olympics before going to China. Liddell turned to her, put his hands on her shoulders and said tenderly: “Jenny, Jenny, God has called me to China but He has also made me fast and when I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” 

That is the point, isn’t it? It is not whether you are “full-time”, “part-time” or “over-time”. The question is: Do you feel God’s pleasure in what you do?

In the New Testament, there is no dichotomy between “spiritual” and “secular” work. All work is sacred if God is in it. 

We must recognise that we are all called to the common ministry of reconciling lost humanity to God. 

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 says: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 

We all share the same ministry but we all play different roles and functions. 

There are some of us who are set apart and called to be equippers according to Ephesians 4:11-13 – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, preachers. 

The rest of us are called to the frontline of the marketplace to evangelise and to disciple. We are therefore all ministers!